David Sullivan is the man in ultimate control of West Ham transfers again but he may have to bow to Aston Villa over one star he particularly likes.
Monchi and Tim Steidten were appointed at Aston Villa and West Ham a few weeks apart in 2023.
It is fair to say the job done by both since has seen the Hammers and Aston Villa head in very different directions.
It was not so long ago Aston Villa were celebrating staying in the Premier League with a final day draw at West Ham.
Since then Unai Emery’s side have replaced the Hammers as European regulars and even made the Champions League quarter-finals last season.
Sullivan back at West Ham wheel but Emery is main man for Villa
While West Ham have a trophy to show for their efforts in recent years, whereas Villa do not, the future prospects of both clubs look quite different at the moment.
Steidten is gone, sacked just 18 months into what he felt would be a five-year project at West Ham.
Monchi is still in place at Villa Park – but make no mistake he and everyone else at the Midlands club know Emery is the boss.
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What Emery says goes and the Spaniard has final say on all matters, particularly transfers.
At West Ham that privilege now defaults back to the club’s majority owner David Sullivan.
Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images
The Hammers have made it clear they will not be replacing Steidten after Paul Mitchell became available.
It means Sullivan will be working with head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay and Graham Potter on what is one of the most important summer rebuilds in West Ham’s modern history.
In the statement denying any interest in replacing their former technical director, West Ham said they felt better players had been picked by the owners than the likes of Steidten, Rob Newman and Mario Husillos.
That must now be proven to be true.
Because any more regression at the London Stadium and the Hammers, who finished 14th last term, will be dicing with danger in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive Premier League seasons for years.
After West Ham signed off the season with a win at Ipswich Potter called for Sullivan to be aligned with him and Macaulay on transfers.
Sullivan must stand down over deal he ‘likes’ as Villa launch move
The manager also made a bold claim that Macaulay has been ‘very busy’ lining up West Ham’s targets.
So Sullivan must now swallow his pride over a West Ham deal he ‘likes’ as Aston Villa launch a £25m move.
The Hammers are close to their limit in terms of income vs expenditure and wages for PSR ahead of £80m losses coming in their next accounts.
So West Ham must sell in order to be able to buy this summer transfer window.
Villa are in a similar situation, showing just what West Ham are up against.
Monchi and Emery must raise around £30-50m in sales by the end of June to be compliant with PSR.
At West Ham the likes of Mohammed Kudus are on the market and the club is banking on getting decent money for the Ghanaian.
Photo by Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images
With clubs knowing Kudus is on his way out, they know West Ham will need a replacement.
It was reported this morning that the Hammers were offered Jadon Sancho by both Chelsea – if they were to sign him – and his parent club Man United.
The Blues opted against the move, paying a £5m fee to send Sancho back to Old Trafford.
As reported earlier, Potter and Macaulay snubbed the chance to sign Sancho.
But it was revealed Sullivan very much ‘likes’ the player and the deal.
The likes of talkSPORT then claimed West Ham remain interested in Sancho, suggesting Sullivan may not let this go despite the reservations of his manager and supposed head of recruitment.
Hammers chief must not overrule Potter on Sancho
But now Aston Villa are involved.
According to TEAMtalk sources, Villa have thrown their hat in the ring for £25m-rated Sancho with doubts over Marcus Rashford remaining at the club.
There is no doubt Villa are a bigger pull than West Ham at the moment.
But the Hammers can offer London boy Sancho the chance to remain in the capital after his Chelsea loan.
After Potter called for unity and alignment among West Ham’s transfer decision makers, though, it would be a dangerous move for Sullivan to push ahead with a deal for Sancho.
The Hammers chief must either back his manager’s decision on the potential deal or it defeats the object of giving Potter any input or having Macaulay in the building in the first place.
And that means stepping back and letting Aston Villa take Sancho if they are seriously interested.